Friday, April 30, 2010

Welcome to this week's segment of Friday Finds. Spring is right around the corner which typically means getting together with friends and family more often than we may have during the winter. This week we're taking a look at some fun ways to liven up your living space without breaking the bank; hope everyone is having a great week. Happy Friday =)

ArtisEverythingWe first stumbled upon ArtisEverything's work when we saw one of her business card holders being featured. We love the fun colors and the retro throwback feel of her designs. To see more of ArtisEverything's work please check out her Etsy shop.

beepartWe were first introduced to beepart when we saw some design work that Neil made for a fellow Etsian. We think his retro/tat inspired style rocks and his designs are a great way to add some flare to your living space. To see more of beepart's great work swing by his Etsy shop.

senioritis This week's design has a retro feel and is sure to brighten up any living space. This week we pay tribute to the original Blonde Bombshell, Jean Harlow. To see more of our tributes please visit ourEtsy shop.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Filigree Photos - See the filigree world in photos.Senioritis: Name and location please. Filigree Photos: Liga (shop manager) and Janis (author of most of the photos). We are located in the Valmiera region of Latvia, Europe.Senioritis: Hi Liga! Hi Janis! We would like to extend a warm welcome to our first European featured artists ;) We're very excited to learn more about you guys and your work.

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourselves?Filigree Photos: We’re young and artistic. We love photography, nature, and birds; as well as new things and new ideas. We are fairly new to Etsy and we're willing to learn. We are active, creative and responsive. We started our shop because I’m (Liga) unemployed right now, but I’ve always wanted to do my own thing. And here it is – I’m promoting my husband’s beautiful artwork now. Senioritis: We're not sure if it's a common saying over in Europe but here in the US they say that every cloud has a silver lining. Liga, we're glad to hear that you now have the opportunity to do your own thing and work alongside Janis doing something you guys enjoy so much.Senioritis: How would you describe Filigree Photos' style?Filigree Photos: Filigree, technical, colorful, and clean.

Senioritis: Are either of you a lefty by any chance?Filigree Photos: Janis is a righty but I can use both hands.Senioritis: Wow, ambidextrous, that's awesome Liga! I wish I could write with both hands. Maybe we have to go to Europe to find more leftys ;)

Senioritis: Do you guys have a favorite quote? Filigree Photos: Janis: "There is so many different worlds, so many different suns, and we have just one world, but we live in different ones." -Mark KnopflerLiga: "Your playing small does not serve the world.” -Marianne WilliamsonSenioritis: Great quotes guys. I didn't know who Mark Knopfler was but thought that quote kinda sounded like song lyrics. Well, after doing a quick search apparently Mr. Knopfler is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and co-founded a little British rock band called Dire Straits ;)

Senioritis: If you could have lunch with someone famous, past or present, who would it be? Filigree Photos: Janis: Nicola Tesla Liga: Pamala OslieSenioritis: Janis, we would love to sit in on a lunch with you and Mr. Tesla (the fact that you built a Tesla coil is pretty wild)! Any specific questions you would like to ask Pamala Oslie Liga? :)

Senioritis: What's your favorite cartoon, from now or when you were a kid?Filigree Photos: Janis: Cow & ChickenLiga: Wolf's RainSenioritis: I have never seen Wolf's Rain but, as a big fan of anime, will have to check it out. Maybe I can find it on Netflix!

Senioritis: Where do you see yourselves and your business in 10 years? Filigree Photos: In 10 years we will be travelling around the world to make more beautiful photos. Our shop is very well known on Etsy and Janis has been invited to show his artwork in well known photo galleries around the world. Senioritis: Awesome! That sounds like a great 10 year gameplan.

Senioritis: Are there any websites you'd like to share with us?Filigree Photos: Our blog and twitter.Senioritis: Great Gimp tutorial on your blog! We love checking out tutorials and think lots of people would find your tips very helpful.

Senioritis: Any shoutouts before we let you go?Filigree Photos: Thanks to the great people from Enyaeire’s thread (in the promo section of the Etsy forums) and to World Wide Etsy Sellers for helping us get familiar with the world of Etsy!

We'd like to thank Liga & Janis for giving us a glimpse into the world of Filigree Photos. Liels paldies!

Monday, April 26, 2010

As I prepare myself to move out of my house in Binghamton, I have no choice but to start to look for housing for the next phase of myself. As fun as this may sound to some I am completely dreading it. Unlike college, I do not have the option of living on campus for a year or two until I make friends to move off with. I have only visited the school once am more than a bit nervous about finding the right place for me to live for the next year or possibly all three years.

Thankfully the school's website has several listings of apartments based on the criteria that I want. If only I knew what that was. I love living with other people but at the same time I really enjoy having my won space. Taking into consideration the pressures of law school I have decided that I want my own apartment but in a building that houses other law students. That is about all the criteria I have besides wireless internet. Oh and a washer and dryer would be nice as well.

Looking at the listings there are several in the same buildings all under different realtors. I have no idea where to begin or what differentiates the apartments and the prices. If they are all in the same building I doubt they vary greatly in size but who knows. I think I want something a bit bigger than a studio so I can have a separate living and sleeping as well as studying space.

Anyone have any suggestions of what I should be looking for in an apartment? or any advice for surviving law school?

either one would be greatly appreciated!

stay lazy y'all especially to all of you students out there who are ending the semester!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

One of the great things about being an artist is absolutely loving to work. When you do something you love, you don't mind working. You can do it for hours upon hours, all the while thinking of it not as "work," but as something totally fun and exciting. For those of us who work in other fields as well, truly loving what we do isn't quite as easy.

After months in a department I did not find all that enjoyable, I recently switched divisions within my firm. Long hours mixed with uninteresting work is a horrible combination. I knew it was time for a change, and rather than look elsewhere, I decided to see what other opportunities were available within my same firm. I switched about two weeks ago, and I could not be happier with that decision. I found work with a hugely interesting subject matter, great people, and lots of challenges. I'm not sure it's something I love yet (it has, after all, only been a few weeks), but I firmly believe there's no use in working hard at something that brings you no joy. For me, the answer (at least for now) was to make something happen for myself by keeping an open mind and allowing myself to have the courage to try new things.

Like Sir Francis Bacon said, "There is no comparison between that which is lost my not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying." Enjoy those words of wisdom as you prepare to start your week!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Welcome to this week's segment of Friday Finds. Just wanted to share some boldly colored finds with everyone today, hope everyone is having a great week. Happy Friday =)

kasia222We think kasia's work rocks, simple as that. We love the fact that her chosen medium is ceramic tiles. While the tiles are suitable for hanging, we envisioned a whole wall made out of kasia's bold hand painted character designs; we think that would look pretty sweet. To see more of kasia222's work please check out kasia's Etsy shop.

Hello Again Monsters!Hello Again Monsters! brings us bold by the way of plush. For those of you that have been keeping tabs on our Friday Finds segments you're well aware that we're big fans of plush and Hello Again Monsters! work looks to be top notch. With names as bold as their colors we think these plush little guys & gals are awesome. To see more of Hello Again Monsters! work swing by her Etsy shop.

senioritis This week we are paying tribute to a man who was rather bold in his day, Greek philosopher Aristotle. To see more of our tributes please visit ourEtsy shop.

Senioritis: Can you give us a brief bio please?RobinsFlight: I'm a stay at home mom of 2 kids. I learned to crochet at age 8,to sew shortly thereafter. I picked it up again when looking for a job after grad school. The crafting gives me a good outlet for my creativity, and something that doesn't involve the kids! I sell my bags so I can justify making more, and I make them because it's just plain fun!Senioritis: That's awesome, it must be nice to have a hobby you enjoy that is separate from your kids! I too learned how to crochet at a very young age and just last winter I learned to knit.

Senioritis: Robin, you have a long history of creativity. How would you describe your style to someone you just met in only a few words?RobinsFlight: classic, unique, textured,...I'm having trouble coming up with another!Senioritis: It is hard to be put on the spot, but we would have to add useful!

Senioritis: What is your favorite color?RobinsFlight: Chocolate Brown.Senioritis: We don't hear that color too often =)

Senioritis: Are you a righty or a lefty?RobinsFlight: Righty

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote?RobinsFlight: At the moment "Is that silly girl fussing?" said by my 2 year old about my 5 year old throwing a tantrum. I don't get too deep about these things. =)Senioritis: Sounds good to us,it is certainly amusing!

Senioritis: If you could have lunch with someone famous, past or present, who would it be?RobinsFlight: My husband...he is on YouTube, after all. =) And I rarely get to sit down and have lunch with him! Famous people are just people after all.Senioritis: Ah! I love YouTube! Also, I understand, when life is non-stop it is hard to get a chance to just relax and sit down with the ones you love.

Senioritis: What is your favorite cartoon, from now or from when you were a kid?RobinsFlight: Classic Pink PantherSenioritis: Good choice!

Senioritis: Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years?RobinsFlight:I really don't know. I might be doing the same thing I'm doing, crafting while the kids are in school. I might go back to my day job, which is cancer research. Or I might be doing something else. As far as my business, I'm enjoying it now, and that's the goal, so I'll do it till I don't enjoy it anymore.Senioritis: Wow cancer research! It must be nice to be able to channel your creativity into something that you not only enjoy but can profit on as well. We wish you the best of luck!

Senioritis: Before we wrap up would you like to give any shout outs?RobinsFlight: Thanks to my husband for putting up with me doing all this etsy-ing. And to my kids, although they don't really get a say in it =). And thanks to everyone who's bought any of my bags, since without you, I probably wouldn't still be doing this!

Thanks Robin for giving us a look behind the scenes of RobinsFlight ;)

Monday, April 19, 2010

I graduate from college in four weeks. Four weeks! It is incredible to think how quickly four years have flown by. I am personally not ready to graduate and I am one of the lucky ones; I have a job for the summer at an Environmental Consulting company and know what I'm doing next year, attending Vermont Law School. I feel old and at the same time incredibly young. I'm not sure I'm ready to go out into the real world.

Surprisingly with graduation comes a great deal of planning. I had to select which ceremonies I wanted to attend, order a cap and gown, make restaurant reservations (Wegmans anyone?), and make sure my house is in order for when all of our parents come up. Unfortunately, when I should be having the most fun with it being my last month I have the most work to do, suddenly all of my classes have final papers and projects that my professors neglected to mention until last week. So what if it is on the syllabus? everyone knows no one reads the syllabus! I also seem to be swarmed with meetings. Even though my senior show was last weekend as I mentioned last week, I still have Pegs responsibilities and work to go to, I work at a library on campus.

Though some might argue that my future is certain, I will go to VLS for three years then get a lawyering job, when I am done with that I will become an Environmental Consultant and from there become an adjunct college professor in environmental law and policy. But while I have my life planned until the age of about 65 there is still so much uncertainty. I hate to admit it but I am terrified to leave my bubble of Binghamton, a place that has helped me grow into the person that I have become. It doesn't help that I will be living in the boonies for the next three years straight since I will be staying in Vermont for summers so that I can get my masters as well as my JD.

To say the least I am a bit stressed out as I come into these last few weeks. Luckily my senioritis has kicked in hardcore so I won't feel the brunt of the stress until the night before each project is due.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Today I played paintball for the first time in my life. Anyone who's seen the fabulous late 90's movie 10 Things I Hate About You and has not been paintballing before knows what I expected it to be like. Remember that scene where Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger go to that outdoor field, where they proceed to splatter each other with paint-filled balloons, while they don giant white jumpsuits and goggles more fitting for a chemistry classroom than the battlefield? Well, that's what I anticipated on today's excursion.

To my surprise and dismay, instead of white jumpsuits and brightly colored balloons, I was met with chest protectors and giant guns. Men in camo with workboots and paint pellets stomped around the Staten Island battlegrounds, hungry for victory. I hid behind fences and iron barrels, netting, and piles of branches. When I stood up to get a better view of my attackers, I was instantly pelted with paint pellets, and rather than dying an elegant paint-filled death, I merely put my hands up in surrender and walked to the out-of-bounds area.

While there were definitely some low points to the experience, the great thing that came out of today is the satisfaction of having brightly colored paint spots all over my solid black pants, sneakers, and hoodie. I felt so hip and artistic riding the subway back from Brooklyn into Manhattan.

In other news, I want to thank everyone who stopped by our table in Union Square today. This was our first table this spring, and there was a very good turn out despite the cool weather. We look forward to the many (warmer) Sundays ahead in the Square this spring!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Welcome to this week's segment of Friday Finds. The New York Auto Show (or whatever they're calling it these days) was in town the past couple weeks so we figured it was an appropriate time to share some auto related finds. Although we didn't get a chance to go to this year's show we love cars and wanted to share some cool auto related finds with everyone. Happy Friday =)

DaydreamersWe actually came across Daydreamers' work while searching for Mustang related items, who doesn't love an old school Mustang right? At first we saw some cool looking cards but after looking a little deeper we found some really sweet digital collages. We pictured the Guinness guys (the beer guys not the world record guys) and thought Brilliant! We really like Daydreamers' style and wanted to share with everyone else. To see more of Daydreamers' work please check out their Etsy shop. To see some of their designs on apparel feel free to visit Tightrope Tees.

fastfastfast

The first design of fastfastfast's that we saw was their Gearshift design; as a fan of the slowly dying (at least in the US) 6 speed tranny we had to check out more of fastfastfast's work. Part rock and roll part racing, we wanted to share fastfastfast's style with everyone. To see more of their work swing by their Etsy shop.

senioritis This week we are paying tribute to the man who brought the automobile to the masses; Henry Ford we salute you. To see more of our tributes please visit ourEtsy shop.